Personal data

Dirk Niebel

Born on 29 March 1963 in Hamburg, Germany

married, with three children (1993; 1995; 2000)


Professional experience 

Since 01/2015

Head of international strategy development and government relations at Rheinmetall AG


Since 01/2014

Policy advisor and management consultant Niebel International Consulting


2009-2013

Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development
- Responsibility for an annual budget of €6.33 billion
- Reform of German implementing agencies for Technical Cooperation, merging them to
  form Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ (17,000 staff in more
  than 100 countries)
- World Bank Governor for Germany
- Member of the KfW Board of Supervisory Directors


2005-2009

National General Secretary of the FDP
- Responsible for two national elections, 14 state (Länder) elections and one European
  election with successful outcomes

1998-2013

Member of the German Bundestag, Heidelberg Constituency
(Parliamentary Group: Free Democratic Party, FDP)
1998-2009   Spokesperson on labour market policy of the FDP Parliamentary Groupin the
                Bundestag
1998-2009   Member of the Committee on Labour and Social Affairs 


1998-2002

Substitute Member of the Defence Committee
2002-2005   Substitute Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee

1993-1998

Placement officer at Heidelberg job centre

1990-1993

Public administration studies at the Federal University of Applied Administrative Sciences in Mannheim and Heidelberg (Departmental Branch for labour administration), degree in public administration (Diplom-Verwaltungswirt (FH))

1984-1991

Fixed-term career soldier, paratrooper 


Completed a staff sergeant training course (top of his class); most recently: reconnaissance platoon leader at the 25th Airborne Brigade; currently Reserve Captain at the Special Operations Division (DSO)


School education

1983 Entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences


Volunteer positions

  • 1998-2009   Deputy Chairman of the German-Israeli Parliamentary Friendship Group
  • 2000-2010   Vice President of the German-Israeli Association
  • 2004-2005   Member of the Heidelberg City Council
  • 2003-2009   Member of the Board of Trustees of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for
  •                 Freedom
  • 2003-2011   Member of the FDP federal executive
  • 2011-2013   Member of the national Executive Committee of the FDP
  • 1998-2013   Member of the Baden-Württemberg Executive Committee of FDP/DVP (German
  •                  People's Party)
  • Since 2005  Member of the Board of Trustees of the Israel Foundation in Germany
  • Since 2009  Member of the Board of Trustees for the President Friedrich Ebert Memorial
  • Since 2009  Member of the Board of Trustees of the Christian Liebig Foundation
  • Since 2009  Patron of the German Rugby Union
  • Since 2014  Member of the Advisory Board of the "Institute for Cultural Diplomacy"




Skills and qualifications

Instructor aptitude examination (1989), good international connections (UN, EU, other donors)